One in six UK investors hold collectible investments in their portfolios, a recent study by Lloyds Private Banking shows. Jewellery is the most popular alternative investment, followed by rare coins and antiques. Collectibles are defined as being able to be touched and moved. They're characterised by limited supply, and their value depends on whether people want to own them. When equity markets are sluggish and volatile and bond markets offer poor value, investors tend to turn to alternative investment opportunities. Some investors argue that collectibles can be used to diversify portfolios and protect against inflation. DIVERSIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES In the Lloyds...

﻿From a mechanical corkscrew and wine-pouring machine to a 1904 Olympic gold medal awarded to an amateur golfer, a selection of the unusual and unique will go under the hammer in Christie's "Out of the Ordinary" auction. More than 90 lots are up for grabs in the Sept. 14 sale in London, the auction house said. Other items include a set of keys belonging to the lamp trimmer on board the Titanic and a history of the Leica camera including 107 of the principal models, according to the auctionhouse. "Robert Hunter was a 17 year-old amateur golfer and this medal...